Kurt Don Schlect

Kurt was born at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital on July 28, 1954 to Don and Betty Schlect, joining his three older brothers, Steve, Neal and Chris on their family’s orchard in West Valley. His childhood was spent happily playing outside with his brothers and helping his dad on the ranch. Digging around trees was not considered a favorite job. He attended Mountainview Elementary School through 8th grade and then graduated from West Valley High School in 1973, where he played on the golf team and was voted “Cutest” in his senior class. While in high school, Kurt continued to work on the ranch and also delivered furniture for Ferguson’s Carriage House in downtown Yakima.

Following graduation, Kurt attended Washington State University, studying Agriculture and was a member of Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity, where he made lifelong friends. After three fun and adventurous years there, he decided to return home and work for his dad at Schlect Orchards.

In the summer of 1980, Kurt traveled to Seattle to go on a blind date with a girl by the name of Sally Baker. The date went well enough that they continued a long-distance whirlwind romance with trips back and forth between Yakima and Seattle. They were engaged on November 1st of that year and married on March 21, 1981 at Sally’s family home, the Bar M Ranch in the Blue Mountains of Eastern Oregon.

Kurt and Sally began their married life in an old farmhouse on the family’s lower valley orchard near Buena. In 1983, their daughter Sarah was born, followed by son Don (Donny) in 1986. After living there for six years managing the orchard, they decided to return to the West Valley ranch to be near Kurt’s family. In 1989, son Eric was born, and the family was complete. Kurt and Sally treasured time with their kids and grandsons, weekend getaways to Seattle and occasional trips to Hawaii for an escape from the cold Yakima winters.

In 1986, Kurt and his brother Neal became partners in the ranch and Schlect Brothers Orchards, was created. The business office was located at Don and Betty’s house, and each day would begin with some or all of the brothers gathering there for an early morning meeting and coffee.

Since Kurt was self-employed and “semi-retired” during the past few years, he could follow his own customized schedule, except when Mother Nature interfered with spring freezes, summer hail or fall winds. When weather permitted, he played golf at the Yakima Elks three days a week with his brothers Neal and Chris and other buddies who made up their four- or five-somes. Kurt spent a couple of hours every morning at the 72nd and Tieton Starbucks, conducting business, meeting friends and reading his Kindle while the wonderful staff made sure his decaf coffee was filled. Kurt was a shareholder at Highland Fruit, and at promptly 10:00 am on weekdays you could find him there during the morning card game. After lunch at home, it was on to the Triangle Club at the YMCA for a bit of exercise and then joining his pals in the sauna and steam rooms to visit about their daily lives.

Family was important to Kurt. Holidays were spent at his mom and dad’s home just down the road, for large “Schlect Family Gatherings.” He remained close to his three children, Sarah, Donny and Eric, and there was a mutual adoration between him and his two grandsons, the apples of his eyes, Jack and Teddy Littleton, who knew Kurt as “GaGa”.

In the summer of 2016, Kurt was diagnosed with sarcoidosis and interstitial lung disease; a mystery to pulmonologists, especially since Kurt was a non-smoker. The only possible cure was a lung transplant, and he was placed on the transplant list in May of 2016. He received healthy donated lungs on September 7, 2016. After initially recovering very well, Kurt had various complications and Sally stayed by his side through the struggles he so bravely and determinedly tried to battle so he could return home to Yakima.

Kurt is survived by his devoted wife of nearly 36 years, Sally, his father, Don and his companion Rosemary Alloway; daughter Sarah Littleton (Luke), son Donny (Laura), son Eric and grandsons Jack and Teddy. His brothers Steve (Terri), Neal (Mary) and Chris (Janet) also survive him, as well as six nieces and nephews and four great-nephews. Kurt will also be missed by his dog Toby and granddog Stanley. He was preceded in death by his mother Betty and his dear friend Jim Lindercamp.

Kurt spread his friendship around, and in addition to Kurt’s biological family, he is also survived by his other “families”: his friends at the Yakima Elks Golf and Country Club, the Yakima YMCA, Highland Fruit Growers, the 72nd Ave Starbucks and the special UWMC ICU medical staff, who so lovingly cared for him during his hospitalization.

A memorial service for Kurt will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, February 18, 2017 at the Yakima Elks Golf and Country Club, 318 Golf Course Loop Rd, Selah WA. Keith and Keith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Donations may be made c/o Keith & Keith Funeral Home, 902 W Yakima Ave. Yakima WA 98902 to: Lung Transplant Program Fund (UWMC), Yakima Elks Junior Golf or donate in Kurt’s name to the Cougar Athletic Fund (CAF), where they are setting up an individual fund. Kurt will be missed by so many. Go Cougs!

To share a memory of Kurt, please visit www.keithandkeith.com